The Leader -- February 14, 2023 Issue

COVER BY Rachel Fratt

JAZZ FESTIVAL OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS AND ATTENDEES ALIKE

Adriana Briscoe (she/her) Opinions Editor

In 2021, Elmhurst University didn’t let the lockdown stop them from continuing their long-running annual jazz festival — but the University of Notre Dame, which had had a longer-running jazz festival than EU up until that point, did, according to Christopher Parsons, director of the Jazz Festival.

“They [Notre Dame] skipped a year, and we went and did a live stream, so we like to state the claim that we have the longest continually running collegiate jazz festival in the country, and this will be our 56th year doing it,” Parsons explained.

This year, the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival will take place Feb. 23-26 in the Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, and it will be live-streamed as it was the previous two years.

The festival will feature four EU bands: Elmhurst University Jazz Band, Late Night Blues,

Lab Band, and Elmhurst University Combo, according to Parsons.

There will also be guest artists — Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, John Pizzarelli Trio, Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford, according to Parsons. Hendleman is a piano player, Mackrel is a drummer, and Stafford is a trumpet player.

Parsons explained that guest artists can serve as inspirations for students.

“We try to run the gamut between students and then big professionals, so you can kind of shoot for the stars and see what’s the potential for you,” Parsons said.

This year’s festival will also bring a new opportunity for high school students; in addition to getting the opportunity to perform and receive feedback from judges, they will receive a clinic from EU jazz faculty.

Thanks to the Office of Student Affairs, the festival will be free of charge for all EU students who show up with their Jaypass,

according to Parsons.

To prepare for the festival, the music department established its festival staff in the fall, including two student managers and section heads who are responsible for certain roles, according to Parsons.

Since then, the festival staff has mainly been focusing on recruiting additional volunteers and doing promotional work, including spearheading a new Instagram page (@eujazzfestival), according to Student Managers Timothy Gorman and Christian Sanchez.

According to Parsons, the festival used to be a national competition when it started in the late 1960s. This changed when James Cunningham, former Dean of Students, decided to turn the festival from a competition to an educational opportunity.

Ever since, the festival has been an educational experience for university students to perform and receive feedback from judges.

“You could be the best jazz band in the country,

EDITORIAL BOARD

Ryan Windle (they/he)

Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Fratt (she/her)

Head Graphics Editor

Abbey Mark (she/her)

Head Social Media Graphics

Ilana Garnica (she/her)

Chief Copy Editor

Emmy Shaffer (she/her)

News Editor

Alyssa Kuehne (she/her)

Sports Editor

Adriana Briscoe (she/her)

Opinions Editor

Multimedia Editor Numair Younus (he/him)

Photo Editor

STAFF

Sade Ajayi (she/they)

Staff Writer

Hannah Barrett (she/her)

Staff Copy Editor

Dillon Connolly (he/him)

Staff Graphics

Ericka Creek (she/her)

Staff Writer

Santé Dybowski (he/him)

Staff Writer

Gabriel E. Galindo (he/him)

Staff Writer

Kay Loving (she/her)

Staff Copy Editor

Alyssa Padilla (she/her)

Staff Writer ADVISER

Eric Lutz (he/him)

ABOUT US

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Sarah Glees (she/her)

or you could be just starting out, and you’re gonna have a valuable experience to learn how to grow and get better in the music,” Parsons said.

While Parsons explained that there have been several directors for the festival throughout the years, the festival has been able to keep running due to student support.

“There’s been a lot of unsteadiness in who’s steering this ship in terms of who the director of the festival is, but all of the directors of the festival have been able to dream big because we have students that are very willing to learn what they need to do,” Parsons said.

Parsons saw this eagerness of students to learn when the live stream was first launched in 2021. He recalled that students “jumped at the opportunity” to learn how to operate a camera, use software, and be producers. He also noted that this experience opened up doors for students. For instance, some former

volunteers are now doing video shoots as part of their job, and former student managers have gone on to work in concert promotions and organizing festivals.

Sanchez appreciates the fact that the festival is student-run.

“I think it’s so cool to see that we have 18 to 22-year-olds running a high-level professional festival,” Sanchez said. “That doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world, and I think that’s something so special.”

He also is looking forward to the learning and performance opportunities that the festival will bring.

“It’s gonna be a weekend that’s amazing — full of love, full of music, full of learning and just opportunities, networking, just so many, so many great things, but if I had to choose a number one, it’s gonna be just being surrounded by great music and great, great minds who have done so, so many things within this

genre,” Sanchez said.

Gorman feels that attending the festival can help people broaden their taste in music.

“I think having a very diverse taste in music is really beneficial because not only for you to have a variety of things to listen to but culturally as well,” Gorman said. “... jazz started in the early 1900s as an evolution of what was once slave music, so it has a really rich culture, and I think it’s just really interesting to open your view to that kind of stuff.”

In addition, Gorman thinks that being a part of the jazz band teaches the importance of being a team player since everyone has their own specific part to play in jazz music.

“I think it’s really good to be a part of that team where everyone is responsible for their own stuff and you all have to kind of fit together and work together to make the music sound good,” Gorman said.

A performer at last year’s jazz festival.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Matthew Gans

ELMHURST UNIVERSITY GOES ‘META’

Emmy Shaffer (she/her)

News Editor

Elmhurst University’s Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) was the recipient of the Immersive Soft Skills Education Grant from Bodyswaps and Meta Immersive Learning. The grant allows nursing students and faculty to utilize Bodyswaps library resources to improve their soft skills and be able to receive feedback. Along with the software, students will use VR headsets for simulations to improve their skills in a safe space.

Bodyswaps, a software company in the United Kingdom, partnered with Meta to improve learning performance and believe the best

way to do that is making technology widely accessible.

The grant was secured by Laury Westbury, assistant professor of nursing, in January after applying for it in November. With over 200 applicants, about 100 schools received the grant. EU is one of two schools in Illinois to have received the grant.

Westbury was excited to be able to provide students with a new learning experience and help them improve on valuable skills.

“I want the students to learn and become more self aware,” said Westbury. “The simulations allow students to do so in a safe space and see how they can improve.”

In the simulations, students choose an avatar

and work with others to practice their soft skills, such as leadership and communication. These simulations allow students to practice in an environment where they are comfortable and don’t feel judged by others.

Once the pilot program is completed, successful applicants will be able to keep the headsets and continue to use them in classrooms.

Students in the MENP will be able to start using the headsets once they arrive in the upcoming weeks.

“I’m so excited for students to get the headsets,” said Westbury. “I want them to learn as much as they can and take what they learn and use it in their careers.”

ELMHURST UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF REMEMBER LARRY FRICKE

Emmy Shaffer (she/her)

News Editor

On Feb. 7, it was announced that Larry Fricke, a part-time employee and former Director of Career Experiences in the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence, passed away on Feb. 2.

Fricke began working at Elmhurst University in 1984 after joining the Office of Development, now called the Institutional Advancement, after a 35-year career in sales and management. For the next 30 years, he was a volunteer fundraiser before retiring in 2014.

Larry Carroll, a professor in the Department of Business and Economics, will remember Fricke for his tremendous impact he made on campus and his willingness to help others.

“Over his many years of being part of the Elmhurst University community, Larry looked for ways to add friends to the university,” said Carroll.

He continued, “He spread the word about how Elmhurst is committed to providing a quality learning experience that prepares students

to make a difference in the world. Larry was a humble individual who looked for ways to recognize the work of others.”

Along with the many accomplishments Fricke made on campus, he was the recipient of the 1996 President’s Founders Medal, and the recipient of the inaugural Volunteer Emeritus recognition by the Board.

President Troy VanAken will remember Fricke for his dedication and the ongoing support he gave even after retirement.

“Larry was so dedicated to Elmhurst University, not only when he actively volunteered here but even after his (second) retirement—he was always steadfast in his support,” said VanAken.

VanAken continued, “I will never forget how he and his wife, Jackie, welcomed Annette and me when we joined the University. I also appreciated the wise advice he gave me personally. In many ways, he was a strong contributor to much of our recent success. We send our deepest condolences to his family, especially to Holly Coffin (retired director of employer relations and internships), another longtime, beloved member of our Elmhurst family.”

For the community to get to know EU, Fricke started Elmhurst: College and Community group for residents to get to know the campus and participate in events. The group had over 100 residents and was a great way to get the community involved.

Chaplain Scott Matheney will remember Fricke’s passion for helping students and the love he had for the campus and community. “Larry was a great ambassador for Elmhurst. He was a ‘friendraiser.’ He opened doors for new relationships that lead to financial contributions, and more so, he found internships for students given his wide network of connections,” said Matheney.

He continued, “He loved this community and was a deeply faithful Christian that wanted to help open the doors of this university for all. He always had a positive attitude and loved people. Our university is so much bigger because of him.”

A memorial service was held at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana on Feb. 11, and a reception honoring Fricke will be held on Feb. 19 at the Chaplain’s residence.

EU’S TUITION INCREASE IMPACTS STUDENTS

Alyssa Padilla (she/her) Staff Writer

The announcement of a 3.5% tuition increase for the 2023-2024 academic year shocked many students over winter break. Rising tuition costs amidst the rising rate of inflation have left students concerned for how they’ll afford classes next semester.

The increase in tuition comes just two years after Elmhurst University surpassed its $50 million fundraising goal.

Vice President of Business and Finance and Chief Financial officer, Julie Suderman, gave insight into why a tuition increase was necessary and what students can expect in the 2023-2024 academic year.

AP: Aside from the need to meet inflation, why the increase in tuition?

Julie Suderman: “In addition to covering increases in operating costs (which the University has tried to keep as low as possible), the University is committed to fairly compensating faculty and staff to ensure that we can keep attracting, retaining, and rewarding top talent to serve our students.”

AP: What will the tuition increase go towards? Are there plans for new developments from the increased tuition funds (not the fundraising efforts) at Elmhurst University? If so, what are they?

Suderman: “The increased inflation rates that everyone has been dealing with since January 2021 have also increased expenses for the University. The prices for items needed for daily campus operations, like food, utilities, paper, etc., have increased significantly.

We do our best to absorb these increases by improving efficiencies and revising our processes, but ultimately some of these costs do get passed on. We’ve tried very hard to limit that amount, understanding that what the University is experiencing is what our students and their families also are experiencing.”

The tuition increase also contributed to compensation increases to reward the hard work of EU’s faculty and staff. Elmhurst is known for the quality of its teaching, and the University is committed to attracting and retaining talented faculty and staff.

As for new projects and improvements on campus, we are evaluating several improvement projects that students suggested during the strategic planning listening sessions that were held in the fall. These suggestions included ADA accessibility improvements, enhanced academic and recreation spaces, expanded offerings in the Wellness Center, and several others.”

AP: Were there any improvements that could’ve been postponed to avoid an increase on students’ tuition?

Suderman: “Fundraising dollars benefit not just new building projects and improvements to classrooms and other facilities, but also, to a larger extent, students and their Elmhurst experience. Philanthropic gifts are used to fund student scholarships; to support research, study abroad and other academic opportunities; and to establish and maintain endowed faculty positions, among other things.”

As for the groundbreaking on a new health science building, delaying it (and other capital improvement projects) raises the likelihood that the longer we wait, the higher the cost will be, and this building has been sorely needed for years.

Our entire campus will benefit—not only our students majoring in the health sciences, but the rest of us too, through the additional physical spaces that will become available when the new building comes online.

Given the needed improvements this project will provide, deferring did not make sense and would not have impacted our tuition levels. Also, because we are strategic with our resources, major projects are financed over a long-term time horizon, which provides greater flexibility and resources to fund various capital needs.”

AP: How was the Board of Trustees able to offer an increased tuition rate at “less than half of the current rate of inflation?”

Suderman: “The University prioritizes good fiscal management to ensure that dollars are expended as carefully as possible and invests in areas that will ensure the long-term viability and vitality of campus. This allows the University to keep the tuition increase as low as possible while still enabling us to keep up with rising prices and to fairly compensate our faculty and staff. (For example, our most

recent campus improvement was an HVAC overhaul that benefits the environment and has increased efficiencies across campus, saving energy costs at a time when utility costs have increased greatly.)”

AP: The announcement email stated fundraising efforts allowed for increased funding for scholarships. Which scholarships will receive the increase? Will there be new additional scholarships? What are the “other ways to support our students” as mentioned in the announcement.

Suderman: “In general, students with financial need will automatically be considered for these funds as their situation merits. Each student’s financial aid is re-evaluated each year to estimate their total need, so the tuition rate at the time would be considered in their financial aid package, and the package would be adjusted accordingly. One of the ways is when donors give to the Annual Fund, which provides immediate support to students, generally in the form of financial aid.”

AP: Is there a concern for less enrollment in coming years based on the tuition increase?

Suderman: “When evaluating tuition, we carefully consider the impact on prospective students while weighing the operational needs to serve our students well.”

AP: Has there been any backlash or disapproval towards the tuition increase?

Suderman: “We haven’t really seen or heard anything except for The Leader editorial, but that doesn’t mean students aren’t concerned, and we understand that. We have been doing all we can to minimize the impact on students and will continue to do so in the future.”

The rise in tuition has caused students to worry about their futures at EU.

Sabina, a junior, stated, “I’m just worried that if they continue to increase tuition every year like this that there might be a point where me and other students might not be able to afford going here or have to take out larger loans.”

Angelica, a freshman, shared her opinion towards the increase, “I’ve heard from the upperclassmen that this is not a new thing, the tuition increase every year, however we’re not seeing an increase in the support and in the scholarships, so I think it kind of speaks volumes about the university’s priorities.”

GRAPHIC BY Abbey Mark (she/her)

SPRING INVOLVEMENT FAIR

Elmhurst University held the Student Involvement Fair on Thursday, Jan. 2. Students walked around the Founder’s Lounge to the booths of various clubs, Greek life, and other associations involved on campus.

“It’s an opportunity for our organizations to market themselves and get to meet new students and members, but also for our students to get involved.”

-Amanda Santucci, Assistant Dean of Students

“I think it’s really important for us to show all the students here that there’s a lot more clubs than we think there are.”

-Alec Lim, Asian Club of Elmhurst President

“It’s important because it builds a sense of community within the school and I think there’s an organization for everyone’s interests. There might be something that someone didn’t know they enjoyed doing and join a club and find out it’s a passion they end up having.”

-Jon Ramicone, Freshman

Club members conversing with one another.

PHOTOS BY Leader Staff

SGA members pose at involvement fair booth.

The Leader editorial board at their booth.

Students roaming Founders Lounge during the involvement fair,

KRAFTED BURGER BAR + TAP OPENS A SECOND LOCATION IN ELMHURST

Ryan Windle (they/he) Editor-in-Chief

Downtown Elmhurst has a new spot to get your grub on with the opening of Krafted Burger Bar + Tap.

Co-owned by chef Robert Kabakoff and former Jimmy Johns CEO Gregg Majewski, the restaurant has a chef-driven menu full of mouthwatering menu items. From gourmet flat-top burgers, to tavern-style pizzas, crispy chicken sandwiches, and salads, this menu has something for everyone.

On top of this wide variety of menu options, they also offer any burger to be replaced with an Impossible patty, and for the pizzas, you can get them all with a gluten-free cauliflower crust, for $2 more.

They also have appetizers that you can snack on, as well as cocktails, and numerous beers

on tap that change frequently.

“Krafted Burger Bar + Tap is the type of spot residents can come to every week,” said Majewski. “We look forward to becoming a part of the everyday life of the Elmhurst community.”

He continued, “The concept has burst onto the Chicagoland restaurant scene in such a short amount of time, and we’re just getting started. Chef Kabakoff has been critical to taking this concept from ideation to actuality and our entrance in Elmhurst is a very exciting milestone along the way.”

For Elmhurst University students left hungry after The Roost closes on the weekends, they have late-night hours from 11 p.m.- 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, where they serve only drinks and pizza.

For normal hours, Krafted Burger Bar + Tap is open from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with the restaurant closing at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for normal dining. They

also have their brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Krafted Burger Tap + Bar also offers unique all-day specials Monday through Thursday, as well as a Sunday brunch special. They also hold Krafted Hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday, where you get discounted appetizers as well as drink discounts. This location is the second Krafted Burger Bar to open, with the first location being in Bolingbrook. The location in Elmhurst opened three months after the Bolingbrook location opened.

“After such a positive reception for the first Krafted Burger Bar + Tap location in Bolingbrook, we knew our entrance into Elmhurst would be well received by the community,” said chef Kabakoff.

He continued, “I have enjoyed every minute of designing the brand and bringing it to life these last few months. It is completely differentiated, bringing together tried-and-true American flavors and fresh, international touches.”

The menu is inspired by chef Kabakoff’s global travels. The Krafted Burger Bar + Tap website states, “From Chicago to Japan, from San Francisco to Greece, Krafted’s burgers paint a flavorful picture from their fresh, carefully curated ingredients.”

It continues, “Don’t let the fancy pedigree fool you, however – you’re here to relax, unwind and eat and drink like a champ.”

Krafted Burger Bar + Tap is located at 111 E 1st Street in downtown Elmhurst, IL.

Select menu items from Krafted Burger Bar + Tap

Krafted Burger Bar + Tap sign.

PHOTOS BY Ryan Windle (they/he)

HOW IDENTITIES AFFECT THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: THE BLACK EXPERIENCE

Ericka Creek (she/her) Staff Writer

We all came to Elmhurst University for a reason, whether that be for a certain major, sports, finance, or convenience. The moment we applied to EU, we began the same journey but have had different experiences. Our identities and backgrounds play a large part in our EU experience. It shapes who we become friends with, what classes we take, and our experiences in and around campus. In this edition, we look at the experiences and perspectives of some of the Black student leaders on campus.

EC: When choosing a college, what did you look for?

Nakala Nadeau: When choosing a college, I looked for a place I could call home in a way that I did not feel awkward being there, that I felt welcomed. I was looking for a family and a home. I was recruited, sports was one of the biggest things I was looking at.

Daizja Hollman: “I looked at the student to

faculty ratio because I wanted a small to medium size school. I wanted to be able to build connections with my professors so I could feel comfortable going to them for help. I also looked at student demographics because I’ve been fortunate enough to go to good schools and live in the suburbs and with that comes PWI schools, and I kind of wanted something more diverse. Elmhurst does have a large white population, but it is still pretty diverse.”

Le’Tavia Hill: “So originally, I was a nursing major. When I was choosing a college, I was looking at their nursing programs as well as the distance from my house being that the pandemic had just started and me choosing to be close to home during that time. I heard a lot of great things about Elmhurst’s nursing program which is why I ended up choosing this school.”

EC: What is your major? Do you think that differs from your experience as a student?

Hollman: “I am a business administration major. I was thinking of this recently, because I am a junior, I have already seen most of the people in my business classes. I have been

noticing that in my lower level classes, I was the only person of color or there were only a few POC. My higher level business classes are much more diverse. I am getting a better world view because I get to see so many different perspectives. As a student who represents the student body, it opens another eye.”

EC: Do you think being female and Black has made your experience different?

Hollman: “Yes, I think it is the way I carry myself, but people have expectations about me. I think because I am a female and Black, people think I am going to strive for more because a lot of the time people of color feel the need to prove themselves. Yes, but at the same time I am just a hard-working person. I am not someone to do something halfway.”

Hill: “For me and a lot of my friends, we have had this conversation before. Being a Black female student on campus is definitely troubling sometimes. I would say as far as socially and dating wise, it is really hard. I feel like we are definitely overlooked and not taken seriously as black women on campus before we even get a chance to show who we truly are. We

Daizja Hollman

Le’Tavia Hill

Nakala Nadeau

are deemed as loud, mannerless, dumb, and ugly. At least that’s how it feels. But I love how despite how people may feel about us, we pick ourselves back up and do what we came to school to do anyway, and that’s get our degree. It’s life, and that’s how it is sometimes. There will always be times where people will think a lot of things about you that aren’t true, but it’s up to you to pick yourself up and move on and most of all, prove them wrong.”

EC: How can the school better your experience as a Black student?

Nadeau: “I would say supporting not only BSU as a Black organization, but other organizations that are for people of color. I think we should embrace all cultures on campus, and as much as our school says they do, I think there needs to be more representation of it.”

Hollman: “I think the school does a good job of giving opportunities for everyone, but at the same time it has been proven that Black Americans do not have the same resources. For me, my family is nowhere near rich; I have a crap ton of scholarships. I work so hard to be where I am. My university still charges me so much. Even with my scholarships, I still have holds on my accounts because my parents can not always pay. There is no leeway and I know I am not the only student in this position. My textbooks are, this semester, $130. I do not just have $130. I work hard for this school, but I get no virtually no help with these out of pocket costs. I feel like our university could be a little bit better on that.”

Hill: “I think the administration as a whole is doing an okay job with making sure that the Black students are taken care of. There is definitely room for improvement. I think that a start would be to make sure that we feel comfortable in the classrooms. Those rooms are the most important rooms of our college times. Those rooms are where we, as Black students, are learning and retaining information that we take out in the world when we graduate. With that being said, if we don’t feel comfortable in these environments, we won’t be able to get the full experience and knowledge that we need to be successful in life.”

EC: Have you experienced any racism on campus or in the area?

Nadeau: “Yes, sadly. Three times last year. One at a nail salon. They made me pay before I got my nails done, but my friend got to pay after. At a Panda Express, this homeless man ran up

to our car and banged on the door. He called me the N-word and was saying he was going to crash my skull in. That was interesting. The one on campus was in the parking lot. We were just sitting talking, and this dude was like “be quiet” but like in a ruder way. I told [him] not to say that because it was kind of mean. Then he called me the N-word.”

Hill: “I personally have not experienced racism in or around campus, but my friends definitely have. Most of their stories revolved around the classrooms and professors not having proper manners when addressing sensitive topics and also not purposely addressing them. This goes back to what I said previously about not feeling comfortable in what is supposed to be the most important rooms throughout our college life.”

EC: Do you feel supported by the school?

Nadeau: “Sometimes. To be completely honest, administrators and people come up to you and say, ‘Hey we are here for you,’ ‘Hey we want to do this for you,’ but when the time comes it does not happen. They put down an agenda saying they will do it and then they do not keep their word.”

Hollman: “Yes. I still think that there are a lot of resources on campus and all of the administration I have worked with have been very helpful and have given me opportunities to grow as a person. I really appreciate that.”

Hill: “I personally feel supported by certain people on campus, but I cannot say that for some of my fellow friends and mates. I definitely think that there needs to be an administrative community that specifically caters to the Black men and women on campus to help us as far as our education. A few of my friends just recently got kicked out of the school because of their poor grades. Don’t get me wrong, I do know that we play a part in this as well, but some of us are unaware of the resources around us that will help us succeed. I wish there were more professors who actually cared about their students’ education instead of doing their job just for a check. Luckily, the BSU advisor, Dr. Ayanna Brown, introduced BSU to a small but effective “open door” community for us.”

EC:What change would you like to see on a national level for Black students?

Nadeau: “I am not saying schools should become an HBCU, but for me, it’s more representation for us. For one, our school is a predominantly white institution because of

the white population on campus, so I would like to see more representation like the Divine 9, the historic Black sororities and fraternities on campus or having more events for Black History Month, not just from BSU. For instance, for SAAC we do Black History Month quotes and people from different teams speak about how it feels to be a Black student on campus. Even though that is such a little thing, that is representation.”

Hollman: “Black student retention is very low on a national scale. I would love to see some kind of act. Do something to keep Black students in college other than sports.”

Hill: “As previously stated, I would definitely like to see an administrative community who are rooting for the Black students to succeed on campus. Me being the president of a small organization on campus, who is also a full time student outside of BSU, I can only do so much. As far as campus life, I would like to see more inclusive events that are held here on campus. The ideas are great but as far as the music and entertainment, I would love to see and experience inclusion. There can even be a thing where BSU collaborates with one of the bigger clubs on campus, which is the Union Board, to create these inclusive events that caters to every race on campus.”

EC: Do you have a community on campus? If so, what created that community?

Nadeau: “I have a couple communities on campus because of my team. Our team is always very supportive about it. Today before practice we had a talk about Black History Month and National Women in Sports day and the fact that we can do that without it being awkward is great. All of the groups and committees I am a part of, it’s a great community. My friends have also given me a supportive community.

Hill: “BSU is my community and safe haven! The mission statement for BSU is that we are a community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni that believes in academic excellence, positive identity development, and the promotion of the Black culture at Elmhurst University. What created this community was the number of Black students who all said the same thing. They wanted a place where they can just be themselves and vent without judgment.”

GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt (she/her)

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH THESE ICONIC K-POP CLASSICS?

Ryan Windle (they/he) Editor-in-Chief

Love is in the air, and when asked what your favorite love song is, most of the time you think of any traditional western song that’s been overplayed at weddings.

When I think of iconic love songs, most times my mind goes to K-Pop classics over any hit from Ed Sheeran or Elvis Presley, which I know some people hold in high regard.

This Valentine’s Day, instead of putting on a randomly generated Spotify playlist of boring, generic love songs to play during the various activities you may be doing that night, switch it up and put on some of these K-Pop tunes.

“What is Love?” — TWICE

If you are looking for any love songs, TWICE has by far the best catalog to choose from, however, “What is Love?” has to be their most streamlined and successful love song. This song has all the elements that scream what K-Pop is all about. An upbeat, bubblegum sound, an over-the-top music video, and a life-changing bridge. All of these elements combined make for a perfect song, but this one hits differently.

It’s a little on the nose, but the song is joyous and fresh; if you want a more mature sound, I would recommend “Alcohol-Free.” However, that song screams summer affair, while “What is Love?” gives giddy, first-love vibes with the song’s lyrics.

By far, my favorite lyric of the song happens right at the start, “My heart keeps beating as if it’s my own story, makes my heart pound and swell with hope.”

The song is cute, the lyrics are cute, and it overall is just a cute and happy song that is reminiscent of all the positive feelings that come with being in love.

“Anti-Romantic” — TOMORROW X TOGETHER

This song radiates feeling sad, lonely, and afraid of the feeling of love; story of my life. Not every love song has to be the most positive, all in your face, this is the best feeling

ever song. Love is complex; one day it leaves you hopeful, and the next day heartbroken.

This song is simple, there’s not much going on instrumentally minus piano and some drum beats, but it’s the lyrics that hold weight and really carry the emotion of the song.

“I’m afraid that it will burn all of my heart and leave ashes only.” Shakespeare wishes that his tragedies were as dramatic as that sole lyric alone.

While this may not be the song you play on your date, for all of those spending this season of love alone, it is the perfect song to sob uncontrollably to (trust me, been there, done that).

“Love So Sweet” — Cherry Bullet

My underrated favorite K-Pop group Cherry Bullet has one of the best discographies in K-Pop, and most of their songs all center around the theme of love.

This song sounds straight out of a video game, like you are about to embark on an epic journey to find love.

The whistling in the chorus sells the song and is what makes it really shine. The vocals are top-tier, the song makes you feel good, and even if you do not like K-Pop, I guarantee this song will spark joy.

The song just is ethereal anytime it plays. Even if I’m not having the best day, it always brightens my mood and reminds me there is love out there.

“CASE 143” — Stray Kids

This song is quite unique and different, but in a good way. Normally, I am never one to rec ommend a garage band beat, let’s throw all the instruments in at once, and get loud type of song, but this one gets my stamp of approval.

The pre-chorus is lighter and really takes you away from all of the sounds going on before it, and hooks you to really pay attention. After that, your ears are in for a treat when the beat

drops leading into the chorus. The lighter tone disappears and we are in deep mode.

If you like more experimental music, this song is for you. The song makes me feel like Nancy Drew solving a love story.

“YOUNG LUV” — STAYC

If you love angsty rock music, this song is for you.

The raw emotion present in the lyrics of this song, and the apologetic nature of them are something that makes this song the most relatable for me to scream in my car.

“Left alone, tear fallin’, I don’t want to remember it, no no.” This song literally can be used to describe several experiences I have had with my ex, and I know a lot of individuals out there who really will relate to the lyrics and emotion of the song.

Again, while not the happiest and giddy love song, these more deep songs I feel are necessary to bring up. More often than not we find ourselves in the theming of these sadder songs more so than the happy, life is perfect love song.

If you are ready to cry on Valentine’s Day like I will or celebrating the beauty of love, hopefully

RUH-ROH, “VELMA” IS JAM-PACKED WITH META-HUMOR AND MESSY PLOTLINES

Sarah Glees (she/her) Multimedia Editor

“Velma,” a new series on HBO Max, created by Charlie Grady and executively produced by Mindy Kaling, was released on Jan. 12, and already it has garnered strong opinions from watchers.

“Velma” has a whopping 1.3/10 on IMDb and 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which is not exactly the streaming success the creators had hoped for.

In an interview, Kaling promised fans of the beloved franchise that, “We love ‘Scooby-Doo’ so much and we’re going to honor it.” However, both fans of the original series and newcomers are in agreement that nothing was honored in this remake.

One of the issues people have with “Velma” is how much it strays from the original franchise. Some reviewers expressed their discontent at the lack of Scooby-Doo even being in the show, and others criticized the personality changes made to the main characters.

Many viewers are left upset at the characters portrayed on the screen. Marmar13 on IMDB wrote, “Daphne is vapid and mean, Fred is a rich douchebag, and Shaggy is a bore. Vel ma herself comes across as Mindy Kaling’s self-insert Scooby Doo fanfic character.”

Other reviews follow in this same vein, and many wish the show’s creators had just come up with an original concept, rather than revamping a classic.

Another issue is the concept of “Velma” as a whole.

Many reviews comment on the edginess and the adult content this show displays, which sets it apart from the rest of the youthgeared Scooby-Doo franchise. They also criticize the way the plot changes on a whim without much development or thought.

Finally, and what makes up

most of the negative comments, is the fact that the show is labeled as a comedy, yet is completely void of humor. Many reviewers agreed that this show either needed to remove its comedy tag or rediscover what people actually find funny.

Positivity for the show is scarce, but not non-existent. Kholsa, a critic on Rotten Tomatoes, wrote, “‘Velma’ is doing a lot — possibly too much — but there are emotional beats and comedic gags that do land amid a saturated creative canvas, including arcs for the future Mysteries, Inc gang that combine existing backstory with eclectic Velma flourishes.” While a majority of watchers find this show intolerable and abominable, it has managed to reach some people.

Personally, I was excited to check out “Velma” when I first saw the trailer for it, especially when I saw that Mindy Kaling was an executive producer.

“The Sex Lives of College Girls,” another one of her shows, has easily become one of my new favorites, so I was eager to see what her take on “Scooby-Doo” would be.

First, when it comes to the characters being changed, it wasn’t much of an issue for me. While I had a general idea of the characters, I didn’t grow up watching “Scooby-Doo,” so I didn’t have a set-in-stone idea of them. I enjoyed the casting choices and felt there was a potential to add a new twist to these characters.

However, within the first episode, the writing managed to suck out all that potential and instead spit out characters that were dull and tropey.

The overall concept of the show had me intrigued at first. I love a good mystery, and I love adult animation. The mystery itself was honestly intriguing enough to keep me watching; however, my interest quickly waned as more plotlines got thrown in and randomly resolved. In regards to the adult content, I didn’t have too much of an issue with it. I did have an issue with the level of adult content present which then was directly followed up by childlike humor and dialogue.

As many reviews point out, this show doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. It tries to modernize by adding these edgy elements; however, it also tries to maintain a level of childlike nostalgia, making the result something that just doesn’t mesh.

The humor falls flat in this series. Much of the pilot is spent making jokes about the tropey nature of television shows, and it’s directly followed by giving into those tropes, playing it off as a unique comedy style. In reality, it just comes off as cringy and out-of-touch. As the show went on, this meta humor was toned down; however, each time it was brought back I caught myself visibly cringing, which you never want in a television show.

“PUSS IN BOOTS,” THE SEQUEL THAT DIDN’T NEED VALIDATION

Gabriel Galindo (he/him) Staff Writer

11 years after the first “Shrek” spin-off, Puss in Boots has come back with a sequel no one asked for, but needed.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” continues the title character’s story, voiced by Antonio Banderas, who goes on a journey to seek the wishing star, a magical star that can grant anyone’s wish or desire upon finding it.

He is joined by recurring character and love-interest Kitty Softpaws, voiced by Salma Hayek, and Perrito, voiced by Harvey Guillen.

This film has a trio of antagonists such as Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, voiced by Florence Pugh, Jack Horner, voiced by John Mulaney, and the physical incarnation of Death, voiced by Wagner Moura.

This sequel is far from mediocre. The story, characters, and plot have made a commercial success for Dreamworks Animation. This felt fresh in every aspect.

The animation style is reminiscent of “Spi-

der-Man: Into the Spider-verse.” Its comic-book aesthetic fits well with this fairytale setting, with some smooth moments and other comic-book-esque moments, a great way to showcase its style.

The plot, on the other hand, is just as magnificent.

The reason behind Puss in Boots obtaining the wishing star is so he can get his eight lives back. Puss had lost his eight previous lives carelessly and now he’s down to his last life. His mortality ends up testing the physical embodiment of Death.

Out of all the villains Dreamworks has created, Death is the most terrifying of them all, depicted as a white wolf with red eyes and armed with sickles. Fear of death follows Puss in Boots throughout the film, all the way to the ending. In contrast to Death, there’s Goldie Locks and Jack Horner. They’re more like rivals than mortal adversaries to the main characters.

Goldie is more of a flawed adversary. The film takes time to establish why she’s after the wishing star, and her character does eventually go through proper development for the

audience to sympathize with her.

In contrast, Jack Horner is the definition of a stereotypical fairy tale villain. The writers made it obvious he was rotten to the core with no redeeming qualities, and it works comically with John Mulaney voicing this jerk.

Aside from introducing new elements, this film still packs connections to the original “Shrek” franchise. Certain characters make a short cameo in the film, with a surprise ending that could hint towards the return of our favorite grumpy ogre and donkey.

The action, comedy, and characters for sure make this film worth watching. Many could argue that no one asked for Puss and Boots to come back, but why should they?

This film had packed more than expected, and it stood its ground for Dreamworks animated films to keep going.

In an industry dominated by Disney, Dreamworks Animation had always rivaled the Mouse with its own set of films since the late 1990s. This sequel certainly proves Dreamworks Animation is still alive and well in the 2020s.

INTERNET PHOTO

THE LATEST EDITION TO THE HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE: “HOGWARTS LEGACY”

Numiar Younus (he/him) Photo Editor

Imagine you’re running late for your first day of class. You grab your books and get ready to head to class with Professor Sharp, but you can’t take the bus because it will take forever, and calling an uber will definitely hurt your pushing negative bank account.

No worries, just take out your Nimbus 3000 and fly towards your class, and hope to not crash into the Whomping Willow or the Hogwarts Castle along the way.

All of this is possible because of the new Harry Potter RPG game, “ Hogwarts Legacy,” which was released on Feb. 10 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XIS, and PC-F.

It will also be released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in April, and is set to be released on the Nintendo Switch during July.

“Hogwarts Legacy” is an open-world game set in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s, a hundred years before the story of the famous Harry Potter and the

Wizarding wars.

The game allows you to live your wildest wizarding dreams and explore the very expansive world of Hogwarts.

Being the most anticipated game of 2023, this game had to live up to the expectations of everyone who loves the Harry Potter world.

In the game, you are allowed to create your own character, which the creators put a lot of work into so that character creation will enable you to create any character that best represents what you want to look like.

If you are unhappy with your appearance later in the game, you will be given the option to change your hairstyle or facial hair in a barbershop, or the color of your outfit with a clothing store.

You can also choose which house you want to be part of, whether it’s Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor. This allows you to have access to the common rooms associated with each house in different locations of the castle.

You will attend the classes as a student at Hogwarts, which are not mandatory, but some -

times become a part of the main storyline. Some of the classes you will be able to take include Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Flying classes.

Another element that is included in your Hogwarts experience are the companions in the game, which are included in the gameplay and missions that you play through.

Another noteworthy feature of the game is the “Room of Requirement,” which fans will remember as the room that only a select few can access, and that it becomes what the person desires the most.

In the game, the room is accessible to the player and they are able to change certain aspects of it, such as customize the decor and select which plants they want. As the story progresses, they will also be able to practice spells, make potions, and even grow plants they might need.

This game has given every Harry Potter fan the opportunity to go wild and have fun. The possibilities are endless, and it’s definitely a game that is worth the wait, and hopefully, the hype.

GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt

BYE SISTER: WELCOME BACK TO YET ANOTHER INFLUENCER SCANDAL

Ryan Windle (they/he) Editor-in-Chief

It was the mascara TikTok seen around the world.

Influencers have always been questioned about whether or not they are being genuine with their product reviews, or if they are only promoting a product because they were paid to do so.

The latest addition to this discourse has been with TikTok beauty influencer, Mikayla Nogueira and a video she posted on Jan. 24.

In the video, Nogueira, who has 14.4 million TikTok followers, had a paid promotion to showcase a L’Oréal mascara. There was an almost instant discussion about whether or not Nogueira applied fake eyelashes to make the mascara look better by giving her longer lashes.

The whole beauty community was in shambles, once again. It was sistergate 3.0, but this time, the fans were the ones left the most offended.

They could not believe that an influencer that they admired would lie to millions of their fans.

It is essential that you, the consumer, are aware of the business of being an influencer. Are these people actually not being paid, or are they being paid to say that they are not being paid?

Because of all that drama, guess what product started to sell more? The L’Oréal mascara that she used. People need to realize that brands use influencers to get attention, no matter if it’s good, or bad. Influencers are the reason why products sell.

Brands dedicate a lot of advertisement money just to pay off these influencers to showcase, or even mention, a product. Every decision made is for money, and money only, integrity will always come later.

When looking at people promoting something, you have to

take everything with a grain of salt. Not every product is made for everyone, but it is the job of an influencer to make it seem like it is. And you cannot just blindly believe someone just because you follow them.You cannot just take someone’s word for something, and believe it to be true.

While influencers are “normal” people and not considered celebrities, they are still running their own businesses and doing their job. Do not put your full trust in these people — be skeptical.

Being influencer-baited is never fun. Words cannot describe the feeling of being so excited about a product, just for it to fail. But with life, there comes trial and error: it’s normal and natural.

Yes, it is frustrating to live in a world where we hold these influencers in high regard when it comes to what is and isn’t good, but having to constantly be surrounded by them, and all their drama can be mentally exhausting. Deciding when is enough, is essential.

Because at the end of the day, you would do it too for a check.

GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt

EDITORIAL

SELF-LOVE SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY REGARDLESS OF RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Roses are red, violets are blue, there is no one in this world you should love more than you. This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re in a relationship or not, we encourage you to take some time to practice self-love and self-care. Self-love is essential because you can’t rely on an external relationship for happiness. If you always rely on one person to give you love, what will happen if that person leaves? You’ll probably end up feeling shattered.

But if you have a strong foundation of self-love, you’ll be less likely to attach yourself to any one person, so you’ll be able to stay grounded whether that person stays or leaves.

Another good reason to practice self-love is that it teaches you how to enjoy spending time with your- self. We spend an in -

creasing amount of time alone as we age, so learning how to become more comfortable in your own skin now is sure to pay off in the future.

The only person you will have with you your whole life is you, so investing in your relationship with yourself is one of the wisest investments you can make.

Also, increasing your self-love will help you love others more fully. You can’t pour love into other people’s cups if your cup is empty. However, when you fill your own cup with love, you can spread that love to others.

During a time when society and the media place a high priority on romantic relationships, it can be easy to believe that we need to be in a relationship in order to feel complete, but this is not true by any means.

You can feel whole and complete exactly as you are whether you have a romantic partner or not; you just have to make the choice to affirm yourself and take care of yourself.

With all of these points in mind, here are some tangible steps you can take to practice selflove this Valentine’s Day season: Write a love letter to yourself. This may sound cheesy, but it’s an excellent way to start affirming yourself and learning to rely on yourself for the love you may be seeking

externally. Plus, if you write a love letter to yourself, you will have something you can look back on when you need a little cheering up or a confidence boost.

Do something that lights you up.

Part of learning to love yourself involves becoming more content spending time alone, so why not start doing more things by yourself?

You could work on a hobby, cook a favorite meal, or even watch a comfort movie or TV show. This is your Valentine’s Day, so take some time to do something that makes you happy.

Take some time to think about what you’re grateful for.

Practicing gratitude will help you view your life in a more positive light. When you can count your blessings and appreciate all the people, places, and experiences you interact with in your everyday life, you can develop an optimistic mindset that will allow you to love yourself and others to the fullest.

Self-love is crucial to your happiness and well-being, so take advantage of this Valentine’s Day — and every day of the year — to give yourself unconditional love.

Letter to Editor Submissions

Letters to the editor can be submitted below or sent to leadernewsec@gmail.com. Letters must include your full name and Elmhurst University affiliation. All letters should be 300 words or less in length. The editors retain the right to edit letters before publication. Don’t forget to spellcheck. The Leader is the student-run newspaper speaking to students, faculty and administrators of Elmhurst University. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff, and are not intended to represent those of EU at-large. All text, photos and art cannot be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.

GRAPHIC BY Abbey Mark (she/her)

BLUEJAY BUZZER: ELMHURST SPORTS RECAP

The Elmhurst University sports recap of the last two weeks, Oct. 9 - Oct. 22.

BOWLING

Feb. 4 at CCIW Illinois Faceoff 4 W, 2 L

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Feb. 3 at Tadd Metzger Multi 8 of 8 teams

Feb. 4 at Windy City Rumble Tie 2nd of 10 teams

Feb. 10 at GVSU Big Meet NTS

Feb. 11 at Titan Open 2nd of 16 teams

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Feb. 1 vs Illinois Wesleyan L, 81-47

Feb. 4 at North Central College W, 75-62

Feb. 8 vs Carroll University L, 88-49

Feb. 11 vs North Park University L, 76-67

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Feb. 1 at Illinois Wesleyan W, 74-64

Feb. 4 at North Central College W, 72-61

Feb. 8 at Carroll University L, 65-64

Feb. 11 vs North Park University L, 93-90

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Feb. 4 at Windy City Rumble 3rd of 8 teams

Feb. 10 at GVSU Big Meet NTS

Feb. 11 at Titan Open 11th of 15 teams

WRESTLING

Feb. 9 at CCIW Championship 6th of 10 teams

Alyssa Kuehne (she/her) Sports Editor

Alyssa Kuehne (she/her) Sports Editor

THE ELMHURST UNIVERSITY SPORTS RECAP OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS, JAN. 29 - FEB. 11

WRESTLING SEASON ENDS WITH BROKEN WINGS

Sante’ Dybowski (he/him) Staff Writer

The Elmhurst University Wrestling team finished their season with a 6th place finish at the CCIW Championships on Feb. 9.

Their top finisher was junior Norbert Crecan, who finished second in his weight class, falling to first by medical forfeit.

Crecan won by fall over Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Colin Duren in the quarterfinals, then by a 6-4 decision over Concordia University Wisconsin’s Ruben Vasquez.

Senior Roberto Pena followed Crecan, winning third place in his division. Pena won by fall over Wheaton’s Riley Howard in the quarterfinals, but lost to North Central’s Robby Bates in the semifinal.

Pena won in a 3-2 decision in the consolation semi against Millikian’s Ryder Marshall, and earned his third place standing by a fall over Aurora University’s Cam’Ron Harper.

One more Bluejay made it to the semifinals, senior Justin Hames. Hames got into his semifinal match by a 8-0 decision over Aurora’s Tyler Evitts.

He lost to North Central’s Robbie Precin in the semifinals, but won his consolation match against Concordia University Wisconsin’s Emilio Acosta in a 13-9 decision. Hames fell to Millikian’s Coby Haney for his fourth place finish. The Bluejays were 5-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play before the championship meet.

With losses to Millikin University and Augustana College, the Bluejays had a slow start. They then had a scattering of wins and losses throughout their season.

Injuries were an issue for the Bluejays all season. Jake Mora, who qualified for the national tournament last season, was someone the team was looking to lead this year, but an unfortunate injury early in the season kept him from competing.

With all the injuries, the Bluejays have had to rely on young talent to carry the reins later in the season. It was one of the freshmen who made an impact this season.

“One surprise has been Colin O’Neil, he is a freshman wrestling at 197 pounds and has won lots of tough matches for us this year.” said Hames.

Despite this season not going in their favor, with a slow start and many injuries, the Bluejays had hoped to finish strong heading into the offseason.

Bluejays at recent wrestling match.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Elmhurst University

ELMHURST UNIVERSITY’S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS BREAKING PR’S NON STOP

Alyssa Kuehne (she/her) Sports Editor

Elmhurst University’s Track and Field team has been building itself up, now No. 21 in NCAA for D3 schools.

While the distance teams were still caught up in cross country, the sprints and field events took to the track in early December with their first meet of the season, the Olivet Nazarene University Holiday Invite on Dec. 5. Many of their athletes started out strong at the ONU Holiday Invite.

Jeremy Inniss scored gold for his long jump of 6.63 meters, Venezia Munoz won a first place finish in the 800 m, and the 4x400 m relay team, including Huda Hussaini, Karmyn Flesch, Naomi Jones, and Ava David, also scored first.

A month of training followed until the next meet on Jan. 14, when the team took a small group to Massachusetts to race at the TRACK at New Balance. The roster included sprinters David and Hussaini, hurdler Nakala Nadeau, mid-distance runner Braxston Redmond, and jumper Ricardo Martinez.

The group also raced at the Suffolk Ice Breaker

on the same day and at the UMass Flagship Indoor Invitational the following day.

Returning from Boston, the group met back up with the rest of the team for the I-55 Invite hosted by Illinois Wesleyan on Jan. 21.

Senior Jumper Leilani Mathews praised her team for how their seasons have progressed.

“My teammates have really been putting in a lot of work throughout the season so far and because of how hard we’ve been working we had multiple PR’s in both track events and field events,” said Mathews.

Redmond won third place in a debut 200 m dash. David continued a winning streak, placing first in the 60 m and 200 m dash as well as earning a top-ten national rank in both events.

Junior Lauren Marshall got a lifetime personal record (PR) in the long jump, jumping 5.13 m and sophomore Esther Brown ran a PR time of 5:25.2 minutes.

A week later the team traveled to Chicago for the Aurora Grand Prix.

David broke a school record and is second in the country in the 400 m dash with a new time of 56.26 seconds. Rafuse also broke a school record, running 5:02.40 in the mile.

Brown also broke her PR once again in the mile with a time of 5:17.64. Sophomore Molly Glover ran her best 3K by almost a minute with a new time of 11:42.95.

Redmond also improved his school record with a time of 49.51 seconds in the 400 m dash. Freshman Patrick Campbell jumped a PR of 12.68 m in the triple jump.

On Feb. 3, some of the women’s team traveled to Wisconsin for the Tadd Metzger Multi, while the rest of the team went back to Chicago for the Windy City Rumble on Feb. 4.

Many of the team placed top ten in their events and secured a third place finish for the men’s team and the women’s team tied for second place with Hope College in Michigan.

The team continued their season splitting the team for the Grand Valley State University Big Meet on February 10, and the Titan Open on Feb. 11.

The men’s and women’s team will continue their season on Friday, Feb.17, at the Slick Invite in Naperville.s

Elmhurst University athletes at track meet.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Elmhurst University

GRAPHIC BY Ericka Creek (she/her)